Thank the troops on Memorial Day! Remember why you should be reading this post.
Honor The Troops This Memorial Day
Memorial Day was established on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan to commemorate the lives lost in the Civil War. It was originally called Decoration Day, as mourners and those wishing to honor the dead would decorate soldiers' graves. While Memorial Day honors those who have given their lives for our country, it's also important to honor those who are still with us. Here are just a few of the many reasons to thank the troops and why we should honor our honorable soldiers this Memorial Day.
1. They put their lives on hold to serve their country.
Soldiers are asked to live without the things we take for granted every day. They leave their families for months or years at a time, sometimes with minimal contact with those back home. Deployed service members miss births, deaths, birthdays, graduations, and many other important family milestones while serving our country.
2. They give their all every day.
Military members spend every day pushing themselves to their limits and overcoming challenges the rest of us can only dream of. Some of us won't even survive a day in the life of a soldier. These hardworking men and women would bathe in mud, live through storms, and endure every physical activity just so they could become the best soldiers.
3. They go wherever duty calls.
Service members are deployed to different locations all over the world, often with little notice. They leave their families behind for many months and live in strange, unfamiliar places, without the comfort of their homes.
4. They're willing to give their all for our freedom.
The picture above shows the oath of enlistment taken by every military member. When they take the oath, they are fully aware that defending the Constitution might very well mean sacrificing their life. Every day, our brave men and women in the military choose to put others before themselves so we can all enjoy our freedom. Thank the troops.
5. They are compassionate.
Detractors will try to tell you the men and women of the armed forces are hateful and bigoted. But it's simply not true. In fact, military members are some of the most compassionate people you will ever meet.
6. They believe in honor and integrity.
When you're in the military, honor is built into the lifestyle. Veterans continue to carry the air of honor and integrity with them long after they leave the service.
7. They're good role models.
In this day and age, it's hard to find good, wholesome role models for our kids. It's comforting to know there are always our brave soldiers for the next generation to look up to.
8. They're innovators.
Most people don't realize that many of the products we use every day were actually invented by the military. Duct tape, digital photography, GPS, walkie-talkies, and even the Internet are just a few of the products we enjoy because of the military.
9. Freedom isn't free.
At the end of the day, Memorial Day is about taking a moment to stop and reflect on those who paid the ultimate price for their country. Without them and their sacrifices, the rest of us wouldn't be able to enjoy our freedom. So this Memorial Day, take a moment to reflect and remember to thank the troops.
In what way can you thank our troops on Memorial Day? Share your ideas with us by writing a comment below!
Do you want to give back? Check out these 10 great charities that support the troops and vets.
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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published in May 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
